Method of and apparatus for separating frosted fruit



March l1, 1941. A. c. PlxTON 2,234,502

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FROSTED FRUIT March 11, 1941.

A. C. PIXTON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FROSTED FRUIT Filed March e, 1939 s sheets-sheet 2 Armen/fr TA. C. FIXTON March 11, METHOD oF AND APPARATUS Foa SEPARATING FRosTEn FRUIT Filed March 6, 1939 3 Sheets-'Sheet '5 Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATESA METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FROSTED FRUIT Andrew C. Pixton, Orange, Calif., assigner to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application March 6, 1939, Serial No. 260,101

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for separating bodies as to relative density and is particularly useful in the citrus fruit packing industry for separating sound fruit bodies from those more or less damaged by frost.

In the citrus industry, a commonly used apparatus for separating such fruit comprises a tank filled with liquid and having a horizontal separating Wall Xed in the tank below the surface of the liquid. Pumping means is provided to cause the liquid to ow in a continuous stream past the separating wall, the fruit to be separated being delivered to the tank by either of the following of two methods: (l) dropping the fruit into the flowing liquid in advance of the separating wall, or (2) submerging the fruit in the liquid and releasing it in advance of the separating wall.

In the rst of these methods, the velocity of the fruit dropped into the liquid and the force exerted on the fruit bodies by the ilow of the liquid causes the fruit to move downward into the liquid and be carried toward the separating wall by the liow of the liquid, the sound fruit falling 25 to a greater depth due to its greater density in relation to the damaged fruit which has a lower relative density. The separating wall of such apparatus is positioned to separate the fruit in accordance with the depth to which the fruit has descended by the time it reaches the leading edge of the wall, the latter being adjusted soV that in theory the damagedfruit passes above the wall while the second, heavier bodies pass therebeneath.

In the second of the two methods mentioned above, all ofthe fruit is delivered to the tank and is carried to the bottom thereof by a suitable conveyor and released in advance of the separating wall. The buoyant force of the liquid combined with the force exerted by the flow of the liquid causes the fruit bodies to rise upward and toward the forward edge of the separating wall. In theory, the lighter, damaged fruit rises faster and passes above the separating wall while the heavier fruit passes below the wall and is thereby separated from the damaged fruit.

Although two methods described above appear theoretically sound, conditions exist in actual practice which render either of the two methods more or less inaccurate and unreliable. In both of these methods as well as in the present invention, fruit is fed to the apparatus at a rate of three orfour boxes per minute in successive rows approximately four feet in length and when a row' of `fruit is dropped (as in method 1)`or recauses a turbulence in the medium which tends to further interfere with the normal movement of the fruit, thus causing additional inaccuracies lo in the separation of the fruit bodies.

The regulations relating to shipping damaged fruit are very strict and rigidly enforced, and the separation of damaged from sound fruit must be done with great care. Sometimes as little as five per cent ofthe fruit shipped is allowed to be even slightly damaged. When either of the two methods above mentioned are employed, it is common practice to discard the damaged fruit and re-examine the sound and'slightly damaged fruit discharged from the separating apparatus to segregate the damaged pieces that pass through with the solid fruit as a result of the inaccuracies mentioned. -The re-examination of fruit taken fromthe separator is usually done by means oi uoroscopes, this being a relatively slow and costly process.

Much ofthe fruit in a frost damaged lot is only partially or very slightly damaged and the relative density of a slightly damaged fruit body differs so little from the density of sound fruit that even fairly accurate separation of the fruit requires a carefully designed and finely adjusted apparatus vto eliminate as much inaccuracy as possible. y

It is an object of this invention to provide such an apparatus in which the severely damaged fruit is rst separated from the mass of fruit to enable a more accurate subsequent separation` to be made on the remaining fruit.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus for separating sound fruit as well as that which is severely damaged from fruit the quality of which is doubtful so as to reduce the volume of fruit to be re-examined after passing through the separating apparatus. y

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be made manifest in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of fruit separating apparatus of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical perspective view showing the passageways through which the different qualities of fruit are caused to travel through the apparatus of this invention and by means of which these grades of fruit are segregated.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1 and showing the manner in which the apparatus operates.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional View taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of fruit separating apparatus I of my invention' is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The apparatus I0 includes a tank II, liquid circulating apparatus I2, fruit delivery conveyor I3, primary fruit separating member I4, secondary fruit separating member I and a discharge elevator I6. f

The tank II includes a bottom 20, side walls 2l and 22, and end walls 23 and 24. Supported in the tank by the side walls 2| `and 22 is a false bottom 25 forming a passageway 26 therebeneath. The false bottom 25 terminates a short of the end wall 23 to provide an opening 29 shown in Fig. 2 and supported by thle side walls 2| and 22 above the opening 29 are deiiecting fins 30. As shown in Fig. '7, screen panels 3| are mounted on the false bottom 25 to permit circulation of liquid in the tank II as hereinafter described. Positioned between the false bottom 25 and the tank bottom 20 as shown in Figs. 2 and 7 are vertical walls 32 having aligned circular openings 33 formed therethrough and xed between the walls 32 is a deiiecting wall 34 shown in Figs. 6 and '1.

Thle liquid circulating apparatus I2 includes a horizontal propeller shaft 36 shown in Fig. '1, the shaft 36 being journalled in bearings 31 mounted on the tank side walls 2 Iand 22. Fixed on the shaft 36 are propellers 38 positioned within the openings 33 of the walls 32. Fixed on one end of the shaft 36 is a large and a small pulley 39 and 40 respectively. As shown inFig. 1, the shlaft 36 is `rotated by an electric motor 4I through a belt 42 trained about the large pulley 39.

The delivery conveyor I3 includes a pair of side rails 45 shown in Fig. 1 in which a transverse shaft 46 is journalled, the latter being movable vertically in yokes 41 fixed on the tank side walls 2| and 22. Mounted on the shaft 46 as seen in Figs. 1 and 4 is a driven sprocket 48 and fixed on the shaft 46 between the side rails 45 as shown in Fig. 2 is a spider 49 about which an endless roller conveyor 50 is trained. The opposite end of the delivery conveyor I3 is pivoted on a suitable fulcrum (not shown) to permit vertical movement of the discharge end thereof.

Mounted on the side walls 2| and 22 adjacent the delivery conveyor I3 are brackets 55 adapted -to rotatably support a shaft 56 upon which bevel gears 51 and a hand wheel 58 are xed. Provided on the shaft 56 adjacent the bevel gears 51 are hangers 60 in which screws 6| are rotatably mounted, the latter having bevel gears 62 fixed on upper ends thereof. The gears 62 mesh with the gears 51 to transmit rotation of the shaft 56 to the screws 6I, lower ends of the latter being threadedly received by ears 64 xed on the side rails 45 of the delivery conveyor |3.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the primary fruit separating member I4 includes an adjustable screen panel slidable horizontally in channels 1I fixed on the tank side walls 2| and 22. Supported on top of the channels 1I is a stationary screen panel 12. Journalled in bearings and 16 on the side walls 2| and 22, above the primary separating member I4, is a shaft 11 having a pair of gears 18 fixed thereon. Rotatable Y on the shaft 11 adjacent the gears 18 are rack tguides 19 and 80, the guide 19 being held against rotation by a bolt 8| extending through the bearing 15 as seen in Fig. 1. Pivotally mounted at their lower extremities on the panel 10 are racks 85, these being slidable in the guides 19 and 80 and meshing with the gears 18 on the shaft 11. The shaft 11 is rotated by a handle 86 and adapted to belocked against rotation by a set screw 81 provided on the bearing 15 as seen in Fig. 1.

The secondary separating member I5 which is substantially similar to the primary separating member I4 is positioned n tandem relation to, and above the level of, the primary member I4, similar reference numerals with primes added being used to indicate the parts of the secondary member I5.

The discharge elevator I6 includes a driven shaft 90 andan idle shaft 9|, these being journalled as shown in Fig. 1 in bearings 92 and 93 respectively mounted on the side Walls 2| and 22. Fixed on the shafts 90 and 9| are spiders 95 and .96 respectively about which an endless roller conveyor 91 is trained, and fixed on one end of the shaft 90 is a sprocket 98. Mounted adjacent the lower end of the discharge elevator I6 is a wall 99 which extends between and is supported by the tank side walls 2| and 22 and mounted on the end wall 24 of the tank II is a drop board |00.

Mounted vertically in the tank I I, 4as shown in Figs. l and 5, is a pair of partitions |05 and |06 formed to provide horizontal openings |01 as shown in Fig. 5, through which the secondary separating member I5 extends. As seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the partitions |05 and |06 extend over the top of the discharge elevator I6 and are attached to the drop board |00. The partitions |05 and |06 divide the tank into three fruit passageways A, B and C. As seen in Figs. 1 and 5, a grate ||0 extends diagonally from the tank side wall 2| to one end of the partition |05, this grate being positioned above the primary fruit separating member I4 and serving to guide cull fruit which passes above the member I4 into the passageway A. Positioned above the secondary separating member I4 is a grate which extends diagonally between the partitions |05 and |06 for the purpose ofguiding the questionable fruit which passes above the secondary separating member I5 into the passageway C. Below the primary separating member I4 is a grate I I2 extending diagonally from the tank side wall 22 to the partition |05, a similar grate |I3 being positioned below the secondary separating member II5 and extending from the tank side wall 2| to the end of the partition |06. Thle grates |I2 and I I3 serve to ,guide the sound fruit which passes below both of the separating members I4 and I5 into the center fruit passageway B.

For the purpose of transmitting power from the driven shaft 36 to the delivery conveyor I3 and discharge elevator I6 a stud |I5, shown in Fig. l, is xed on the side wall 22 of the tank II. Rotatable on the stud |I5 is a pulley |I6 driven from the pulley 40 of shaft v36 by a belt I I'I. Adjacent to the pulley IIS and rotatable therewith, are sprockets IIS and |20. The sprocket II9 is aligned with the sprocket 48 of the delivery conveyor, the latter being driven by a chain |22, and trained about the sprocket |20 and the sprocket 98 of the discharge elevator I6 is a chain |23.

Operation The tank I I is filled with water during operation of the apparatus I0 as shown in Fig. 6 and the shaft 36 is driven by the motor 4| in the direction indicated by the arrow d in Fig. 6, the propellers 38 thereon forcing water against the deecting wall 34 which directs the flow rightward as -viewed in Fig. 6 through the passageway 25. The flow passes upward through the opening 29 in the false bottom 25 and is directed leftward by the arcuate ns 30', the flow returning to the propellers 38 through the screen panels 3| shown in Fig. 7.

Rotation of the propeller shaft 26 is transmitted by the belt II'I and chains |22 and |23 to the delivery conveyor I3 and discharge elevator I5, these being driven in the direction indicated by arrows e of Fig. 6.

As shown in Fig. 6, fruit F to be separated by the separator I0 is delivered by the conveyor I3 and dropped, one row at a time, into the water in advance of the primary separating member I4. The severely damaged fruit bodies, classed as culls, are indicated by the letter a in Fig. 6, the sound and less damaged fruit bodies being designated by the letters b and c, respectively. As mentioned before, the relative density of the damaged fruit bodies is less than the density of sound fruit by an amount proportional to the amount of juice lost by the fruit as a result of the fruit having been frozen.

As the rows of fruit are thus dropped into the water of the tank I I, the velocity of the lighter, damaged fruit bodies a is overcome by the flow of water sooner than the velocities of the heavier bodies b and c which sink deeper, the arrows I, 2 and 3 -of Fig. 6 indicating the approximate paths of the bodies a., b and c, respectively. The culls a which pass above the panel I0 of the primary separating member I4 are deected by the grate IID into the passageway A sho-wn in Fig. 5 and onto the discharge elevator I6. The sound and slightly damaged fruit bodies b and c respectively, descend deeper and are carried below the panel 'I0 by the flow of the water. After the bodies b and c pass from under the primary separating member I4, they rise in response to the buoyant force of the water, the bodies c of lesser density passing above the panel 'I0' of the secondary separating member I5 while the bodies b pass therebelow. The grate III deflects the bodies c into the passageway C While the grates I|2 and I I3 direct the sound fruit b into the passageway B.

Suitable conveying means (not shown) is provided to receive the separated fruit a, b and c discharged onto the drop board Ill by the discharge elevator I6. The culls are discarded, the sound fruit prepared for shipment, and the fruit c, of doubtful quality, is subsequently examined by a fluoroscope or other suitable means to separate the fruit damaged beyond a specified allowable amount from that which is passable.

If desirable to vary the depth to which the fruit bodies a, b and c descend in the water after being dropped from the delivery conveyor I3, the delivery end of the latter can be adjusted the lever 85.

by rotating'the transverse' shaft 55 which rotates the screws 6I causing the conveyor I3 to move vertically to the desired position, the depth to which the fruit bodies descend in the water being substantially proportional `to the vertical distance from the surface of the water to the discharge end of the delivery conveyor I3. l

The relative vertical position of the advance edge of the panel 10 of the primary separating member I4 may be adjusted by loosening the set screw 81 and rotating the shaft 11 by .means of Rotation of the shaft Il raises `or lowers the racks 85 attached to the panel 'I0 which is suciently flexible to permit this adjustment. The panel 'I0 may be adjusted horizontally as well as vertically by loosening the bolt 8| and rotating the rack guide 'I9 on the shaft 'I1 until the proper horizontal position of the panel 'I0 is obtained. The panel 'I0' of the secondary separating member I5 is adjusted in the same manner as the panel 'I0 of the primary separating member I4.

The panel 1|] of the primary separating member I4 should be adjusted to a sufliciently high level to prevent any of the fruit bodies b and c from passing above this panel with the culls a. If any of the culls a should pass under the panel 'I they rise quickly after passing under the separating member I4 so as to pass over the secondary separating member I5 and are detected during the aforementioned fluoroscopic examination of the bodies c.

The method of separating the culls by the primary separating member |4 reduces the amount of fruit to be separated by the secondary member I5 which results in a more accurate separation by the secondary member and a reduction in the amount of fruit requiring uoroscopic examination.

It is thus apparentthat the method and apparatus herein disclosed is adapted to separate fruit into groups o-f sound, damaged and fruit of doubtful quality with a high degree of accuracy so as to greatly reduce the amount of time, labor and expense heretofore required to accomplish the diiiicult and exacting process of separating frost-damaged fruit.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of segregating fruit, the pieces of which vary in density, which comprises: discharging said pieces of fruit from a given point, in a uniform manner, into a flowing flotation medium; segregating said fruit into groups by dividing said fruit in accordance with the depth of the individual pieces thereof in said otation medium after said pieces of fruit have traveled with said medium a predetermined horizontal distance; restraining, after the aforesaid segregation, that fraction of the lowermost of the aforesaid groups which tends to rise above a given level, from rising above said level, so that said fraction in its further travel with said medium forms a layer substantially on said level; releasing said fraction at a given point in its travel with said medium from restraint against rising upwardly; and at a subsequent point in the flow of said medium segregating said fraction into groups in accordance with the distance which the individual pieces of fruit in said fraction have risen in said medium following the aforesaid release of said fraction.

2. In an apparatus for separating fruit bodies as to the relative density thereof, the combination of: a tank containing a liquid; means for circulating the liquid in said tank to produce a substantially horizontal stream of said liquid adjacent the surface thereof; a primary separating member positioned insaid tank and submerged in said stream; means for introducing fruit into saidistream in advance of the leading edge of said separating member so that as said fruitis carried along with said stream it is segregated by said member into groups, one of which passes above said member, and one of which passes below said member; and a secondary separting member which is submerged in said stream, the leading edge of said secondary separating member being disposed above the trailing edge of said 

